Improved apparatus for condensing steam and elevating feed-water



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BRIGG-S, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 110,392, dated October 27, 1863 g antedated October 20, 1863.

T0 all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that l, JOHN BRIGGS, of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State ot' Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Condensing Steam and Elevating Feed-Water for Steam-Boilers and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be atull and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of the said ap` paratus at x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, with a small part of the shell broken away to expose the interior.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

The subject of my said invention is an ap paratus in which water is elevated by the force of exhaust-steam and the steam afterward condensed by contact with the said water within a suitable reservoir, where the water may be retained for the supply of the boiler.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proce-cd to describe its construction and operation.

A may represent the bottom'of a vessel or other structure on or in which the apparatus is to be used.

B represents a steam cylinder; O, the valve; D, the steam supply pipe, and E the exhaustpipe. rlhe latter is formed at its upper part with an enlarged chamber, E', and delivers into a reservoir, F.

G is a pipe projecting downward into the water in which the ship oats, or into any other suitable body of water. rIhe said pipe is guarded near its lower end by a valve, H, permitting the upward ow of water, but preventing its descent. The upper end ot' the pipe G enters the chamber E', and is there deilected away from the steam-cylinder or in the direction of the tlow of exhaust-steam, as shown at G.

I is a cup projecting upward from the pipe G in such a position that any water poured into it will ilow into the lower part of the pipe.

J is a cock to open or close this external communication with the pipe G.

K is av pipe through which water may be taken from the reservoir F to supply the boiler.

i L is a check-valve guarding a port in the top of the reservoir F, through which port any steam not already condensed may be allowed to escape to a second condenser of this or any other form.

To charge the apparatus the pipe G is first iilled with water through the cup I and cock J.

The apparatus is then operated in the tollowing` manner: The exhaust-steam, flowing forward through the pipe E around the mouth ot' the pipe G, forces the air from the latter, producing a partial vacuum and causing the external Water to be forced up the pipe G by atmospheric pressure, mingled with the steam nand precipitated in a shower within the reservoir F, the water in turn effecting the condensation of the steam. The water on leaving the mouth ofthe pipe G strikes the elbow ot' the pipe E, which scatter's and mingles it among the steam and renders the condensing action more complete.

An apparatus of the above description will elevate water twenty-five feet without expenditure of powder, the force of the engine being rather increased by the condensation of the steam, and the water thus elevated is in the act ot' condensing the steam heated preparatory to its introduction to the boiler. The reservoir F should, if practicable, be placed not more than twenty feet above the surface ofthe water. It' the height to which the Water is to be raised exceeds twenty-five feet, it should be done at two or more operations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new-therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The deflected water-pipe G/ and steam-pipe E E, when combined with the exhaust-port ot' a steam-engine, in the manner and for the purposes herein specified.

Witnesses: JOHN BRIGGS.

R. H. MAYHEW, CHARLES SMITH. 

